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by Veronica Raymond and Deb Shaw
The Southern California Horticultural Society (SCHS) is honoring Kathy Musial with a “Horticulturist of the Year” award at their 2015 Annual Award Banquet at the Los Angeles Arboretum.
BAGSC members may be most familiar with Kathy’s tireless work as part of The Huntington/BAGSC team for “Weird, Wild & Wonderful: The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition,” Weird, Wild & Wonderful Symposium, and the BAGSC adjunct exhibition.
The Southern California Horticultural Society is recognizing Kathy with the 2015 Horticulturist of the Year award for her work as Curator of Living Collections at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. During her work there during the last 30 years, Kathy has made significant contributions to horticultural and botanical knowledge, both locally and globally.
Kathy has authored numerous publications, ranging from professional papers to excerpts from her travel diary of her tours to Chile, to editing the massive tome, Conifers Around the World, with Zsolt Debreczy and István Rácz. She has led botanical tours to Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and Madagascar.
Everyone is invited to join SCHS in celebrating Kathy’s remarkable work and dedication in the field of horticulture and in advancing a greater understanding of the flora of our world on:
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
Peacock Cafe
6pm, social hour and silent auction. Dinner and presentation begin at 7pm.
Purchase banquet tickets on-line, $45 each, by Thursday, September 3, 2015.
Please call Steven Gerischer, (323) 257-3629 with any questions.
Kathy has been a great resource for many BAGSC members and plant lovers everywhere. Congratulations Kathy!
by Clara Josephs, posted by Deb Shaw
Here is some helpful information regarding the cost of Olga’s Sunday class at the LA Arboretum. The base cost of the class (through Otis) for noncredit is $435 plus the required amount of $39 for insurance and registration fees. You may deduct up to two $50 ($100 total!) discounts as they apply to you.
Choose from any two of the following:
- Senior, 60 and over: subtract $50
- KCRW member with valid card in your name: subtract $50
- Early bird registration until August 23: subtract $50
- Alumni discount: subtract $50
Take two discounts and the cost of the class is $374 for 8 full days of instruction!
For convenience, here is the basic information posted in a previous BAGSC Blog post:
Graphite for Botanical Illustration. Classes will held for 8 Sundays, from September 13 through November 1, 9:30–4:30 and is appropriate for all skill levels. Register through Otis College 310 665 6950 class # XILU3556. This class is not yet up on the website, but will fill quickly. If you are interested, register soon by phone.
by Deb Shaw
Our dear Jill Berry at the Los Angeles Arboretum will be retiring shortly. BAGSC sends out a BIG THANK YOU to Jill for all your years of help, service, and support.
Many of us got our start in botanical art at the LA Arboretum, in classes taught by Olga Eysymontt. Jill was a big part of our experience there, and we will miss her. Jill, congratulations on your retirement, and we wish you all the happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead. Thank you!
Our collaboration and support of the Arboretum will continue, of course. The schedule for Cristina Baltayian’s classes has been announced for January – June, 2015 at the Arboretum. These classes will be exploring color pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor on various papers, vellum and other surfaces. The emphasis will be on plant observation, drawing, composition, color theory and matching, and medium techniques.
Tuesdays, 2015 (10 am – 2 pm)
January: 6, 13, 20, 27
February: 3, 10, 17, 24
March: 3, 10, 17, 24
April: 7, 14, 21, 28
May: 5, 12, 19, 26
June: 2, 9, 16, 23
Cost: $275 Arboretum members per month; $295 non-members per month (includes Arboretum admission)
To register: Pre-registration required; please call the Class Registration line at 626.821.4623. Class participation is limited to a minimum of five students and a maximum of 12. A supply list will be provided upon registration. You may bring your lunch or purchase it at the Peacock Café.
Additionally, this year continues the “Arboretum Plant Introduction Project.” Cristina’s students, along with BAGSC members will be studying and portraying many of the Arboretum plant introductions from the last 50 years. The goal is to build a collection of paintings that will celebrate and document the invaluable contribution of the Los Angeles Arboretum to the state of California.
About the Instructor
Cristina Baltayian has a background in drawing (graphite, charcoal, pen and ink), two-dimensional design, watercolor, and colored pencils. Her work has been shown at Filoli, the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and Chapman University Leatherby Libraries. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, and The Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California.
by Deb Shaw
Cristina Baltayian will be teaching Botanical Art & Illustration at the Los Angeles County Arboretum:
Tuesdays, November 4, 11, 18, 25, 2014
10am-2pm; Oak Room
$275 members; $295 non-members
These classes will explore color pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor on various papers, vellum and other surfaces. The emphasis will be on plant observation, drawing, composition, color theory and matching, and medium techniques. All levels of experience are welcome, and participants will find a very high degree of personalized attention. Class participation is limited to a minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 12.
The class fee is for four (4) Tuesdays each month. The next session will be: December 2, 9, 16, 23, 2014. You may bring your lunch or purchase it at the Peacock Café. A Materials List will be provided upon registration.
In addition, an exciting project has begun, in which, in conjunction with the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California, students will be studying and portraying many of the Arboretum plant introductions from the last 50 years. The goal is to build a collection of paintings that will celebrate and document the invaluable contribution of the Los Angeles Arboretum to the state of California.
Class fees include admission to the LA Arboretum. For more information, visit the class website page. Pre-registration is required; call 626.821.4623. The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is located at: 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007.
And one more for all you photography buffs out there…
The LA Arboretum will also hold a workshop on “Night Photography in the Garden”
Saturday, November 22; 7-9pm
Instructor: Frank McDonough
$30 members; $35 non-members
Photographers don’t miss this opportunity to photograph the Arboretum when it’s at its most interesting and unusual; at night. Bring your cameras, LED lights, lasers and specialty light sources and go on the hunt for unique, unusual, and beautiful nighttime picture-taking opportunities. Note: Headlamp required; tripod and DSLR recommended. Please call the class register line at 626-821-4623 to register.
by Deb Shaw
The LA Arboretum and Garden Conservancy will present an event entitled “Natural Discourse: Light & Image“ on
Saturday, October 18
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: $110 for members/$125 for non-members
This event is part of the ongoing series “Natural Discourse: Artists, Architects, Scientists & Poets in the Garden.” A collaborative project between the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley and a multi-disciplinary group of artists, writers, architects and researchers, “Natural Discourse” offers symposia, publications and art installations that explore connections between art, architecture and science in the garden.
This symposium features: Roger Handgarter, Ph.D., Chancellor’s Professor of Biology at Indiana University, who will speak about his work in photosynthesis, Jenny Brown who will discuss her work with the renowned Blaschka Collection of glass flowers at Harvard, artist Christian Thornton who will talk about glass-blowing, energy harvesting and agaves, photographer Marion Brenner who will talk about photography and light, and artist John Carpenter who will display his interactive digital works.

Roger Hangarter, Ph.D., Chancellor’s Professor of Biology, Indiana University, on light and the process of photosynthesis.
For more information about registration, call the Arboretum at 626.821.3237 or tickets may be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/772595

Christian Thornton, glass artist, founder of Studio Xaquixe, Oaxaca, Mexico, on glass-blowing, energy harvesting, and agaves.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is located at: 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA.
by Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
Don’t forget Matt Ritter’s class on trees on Saturday, September 6 at 9:30 am at the LA Arboretum. Matt’s previous class in June, The Botany of Trees, was enthusiastically attended and filled with accolades at the completion! This will be the second of three workshops with Matt:
Tree Diversity and Natural History, with Dr. Matt Ritter
Workshops for Homeowners, Landscape Professionals and Plant Lovers at the Arboretum
Discussion will focus on the remarkable tree diversity in Southern California (including natives), how to identify trees, and how to appreciate them.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia 91007
$25 Arboretum members per class; $30 non-members per class (includes Arboretum admission)
Please call the Class Registration Line at 626.821.4623 to register, or you may register at the door.
Be sure to save the date for Matt’s third (and final) lecture in the tree series:
Saturday, October 11: Trees for the 21st Century in Southern California
The focus in this class will be on the most appropriate trees for both small yards and for Southern California’s climate, in addition to undeservedly rare trees for this region and how to find them.
Matt Ritter has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a Ph.D. in plant biology. He has authored numerous scientific papers and botanical treatments, including the second edition of the Jepson Manual, the Flora of North America Project, and a natural history guide to San Luis Obispo plants. He is a professor in the Biology Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and director of the plant conservatory there. He holds a Kenan Fellowship at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, is the chair of the City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee, and editor-in-chief of Madroño, the journal of the California Botanical Society. http://www.baobabbotanical.com/Ritter
by Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
The Los Angeles Arboretum is offering an opportunity to learn about the botany of trees in a series of workshops:
ALL ABOUT TREES with Dr. Matt Ritter
Workshops for Homeowners, Landscape Professionals & Plant Lovers
Each workshop will be held from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm.
$25 Arboretum members per class; $30 non-members per class (includes Arboretum admission).
Please call the Class Registration Line at 626.821.4623 to register, or you may register at the door.
Saturday, June 21: The Botany of Trees
This workshop is specially designed for homeowners as well as landscape professionals, and will teach you everything you need to know about how to pick, plant, grow and understand trees.
Saturday, September 6: Tree Diversity and Natural History
Learn about the remarkable tree diversity in Southern California, including natives, how to identify trees, and how to appreciate them.
Saturday, October 11: Trees for the 21st Century in So. California
The focus in this class will be on the most appropriate trees for both small yards and for Southern California’s climate…in addition to undeservedly rare trees for this region and how to find them.
The Los Angeles Arboretum is located at 301 North Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia, California 91007.
Matt Ritter has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a Ph.D. in plant biology. He has authored numerous scientific papers and botanical treatments, including the second edition of the Jepson Manual, the Flora of North America Project, and a natural history guide to San Luis Obispo plants. He is a professor in the Biology Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and director of the plant conservatory there. He holds a Kenan Fellowship at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, is the chair of the City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee, and editor-in-chief of Madroño, the journal of the California Botanical Society. http://www.baobabbotanical.com/Ritter
by Cristina Baltayian and Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
BAGSC member Cristina Baltayian will be teaching two classes in June at the Los Angeles Arboretum, as well as classes in her studio:
JUNE CLASSES AT THE LOS ANGELES ARBORETUM:
Fruits
Tuesdays, June 3, 10, 17, 24
10am-2pm (includes break for bring you own lunch or at Peacock Café); Oak Room
$255 members; $275 non-members
Introduction to Botanical Illustration: A 4-day Workshop
This introductory workshop on botanical drawing covers the fundamental skill of drawing in botanical art. In this intensive workshop, participants will learn skills and techniques of graphite pencil and its range of beautiful tones from light silver to rich black, ideally suited to botanical drawing. In these four days, students will learn how to start and finish a botanical portrait, as well as:
- Hone observation skills
- Be guided through sketching and line drawing exercises
- Discover how to arrange shapes on a page and make a pleasing composition
- Translate a 3-dimensional subject onto a 2-dimensional surface
Additional botanical art instruction is provided in the on-going Tuesday Botanical Illustration classes from 10 am – 2 pm.
Four Day Workshop:
Wednesday, June 25
Thursday, June 26
Friday, June 27
Saturday, June 28
10 am – 3 pm (includes lunch break)
$325 Arboretum members for all four days
$345 Non-members for all four days (Includes Arboretum Admission)
You may bring your lunch or purchase it at the Peacock Café. Plants for drawing subjects, will be provided by the Arboretum.
Pre-registration required: please call 626.821.4623.
CLASSES AT CRISTINA BALTAYIAN’S STUDIO:
Cristina also teaches classes at her studio on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 1 pm to 4 pm. For more information, please email her.
Cristina Baltayian has a background in drawing (graphite, charcoal, pen and ink), two-dimensional design, watercolor, and colored pencils. Her work has been shown at Filoli, Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Chapman University, and Virginia Robinson Gardens. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and The Botanical Guild of Southern California.
by Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
SpringTopia is at the Arboretum, Celebrating a World of Plants!
Saturday, May 3 & Sunday, May 4
10 am—3:30 pm
SpringTopia features guest speakers, walking tours with experts, music, children’s activities and entertainment, botanical art and mosaic demonstrations, Gift Shop specials, delicious food at the Peacock Café, free tram tickets for Arboretum members, and colorful blooms at Wildflowering L.A.
A full schedule of activities are on the Arboretum’s website.
BAGSC members Cristina Baltayian and Marilyn Parrino, along with Nancy Beckham will be demonstrating Botanical Art:
- Saturday, May 3, 10am-1pm, demonstrations by Cristina Baltayian
- Sunday, May 4, 11am-3pm, demonstrations by Cristina Baltayian, Nancy Beckham and Marilyn Parrino
- Location: Oak Room Patio near Peacock Fountain
by Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
Now that 2014 is here, the Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden classes are all beginning again! Below is the schedule for botanical art through June, 2014 of botanical art and illustration classes with Cristina Baltayian, Instructor:
All of the classes listed below meet on Tuesdays, from 10 am – 2 pm.
January 7, 14, 21, 28: Basics of color theory and color mixing
February 4, 11, 18, 25: Spring Bulbs (on February 11, this class will meet in the Bamboo Room)
March 4, 11, 18, 25: Wisteria (on March 11, this class will meet in the Bamboo Room)
April 1, 8, 15, 22: Arboretum Florilegium, subject to be decided (on April 11, this class will meet in the Bamboo Room)
May 6, 13, 20, 27: Basics of Composition
June 3, 10, 17, 24: Fruits, subject to be decided
Fee: $255 per month for Arboretum members; $275 per month for non-members
Fees includes Arboretum admission. Class participation is limited to a minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 12.
Pre-registration is required; please call the Class Registration line at 626.821.4623.
A supply list will be provided upon registration. You may bring your lunch or purchase it at the Peacock Café.
These classes will be exploring color pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor on various papers, vellum and other surfaces. The emphasis will be on plant observation, drawing, composition, color theory and matching, and medium techniques.
In addition, this year, in conjunction with the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California, students will be studying and portraying many of the Arboretum plant introductions from the last 50 years. The goal is to build a collection of paintings that will celebrate and document the invaluable contribution of the Los Angeles Arboretum to the state of California.
Cristina Baltayian has a background in drawing (graphite, charcoal, pen and ink), two-dimensional design, watercolor, and colored pencils. Her work has been shown at Filoli, the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and Chapman University. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, and The Botanical Guild of Southern California.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is located at 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007-2697, Phone: 626.821.4624, Fax: 626.821.4642
by Lori Vreeke, posted by Deb Shaw
Ann Swan will come across the pond to teach a four-day coloured pencil workshop: Wednesday, September 25 – Saturday, September 28, 2013, in the Oak Room at the Los Angeles Arboretum. The class will meet from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, and is limited to 16 students. The cost is $440.00.
This workshop will focus on techniques used in Botanical Art Illustrations working in Color Pencil. Workshop will include lecture, demonstrations, and one-on-one critiques. All skill levels are welcome, though some colored pencil experience is recommended as is drawing and sketching of botanicals.
Students need to bring their own materials (list will be supplied). Supplies also can be pre-ordered, and a limited number of supplies will be for sale at the workshop.
Complementary tea, coffee and light snacks will be available in the classroom; food is available in the Peacock Cafe for purchase.
Ann works primarily in graphite and coloured pencil and is well known for her exquisitely fine detail, vibrant colours and strong contemporary style She is passionate about coloured pencils, believing they are easy to master, forgiving and accessible so that even a complete beginner can quite quickly produce work of quality.
Ann’s many exhibitions include: The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Hunt Institute’s 8th International Exhibition, Society of Botanical Artists, Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. Her work is represented in the prestigious Shirley Sherwood Collection and features in many private collections around the world.
- RHS Silver Gilt Medal
- RHS Gold Medal 4X
- Silver Medal 14th World Orchid
- SBA President’s Award
- SBA Suzanne Lucas Memorial Award
- UKCPS 3rd Best in Show
- UKCPS People’s Choice Coloured Pencil
- UKCPS People’s Choice Mixed Media (shared) for ‘Merlot’
A deposit of $150.00 holds a place in the class; the final amount is due by September 1, 2013. Questions? Contact Lori Vreeke via email.
by Jill Berry, posted by Deb Shaw
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens will be offering a weekly evening Botanical Art and Illustration class in addition to their Tuesday morning classes.
We are trying to set a day that will be convenient to most people, so if you are interested, let us know which day you would prefer, from Monday to Thursday. Class participation is limited to a minimum of five students and a maximum of 12.
Cristina Baltayian will be the instructor, and we will be exploring colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor on various papers, vellum and other surfaces. The emphasis will be on plant observation, drawing, composition, color theory and matching, and medium techniques.
This year we have started a very exciting project, in which, in conjunction with BAGSC, we will be studying and portraying the many Arboretum introductions collected over a period of almost 50 years, to build a collection of paintings that will celebrate and document the invaluable contribution of the Los Angeles Arboretum to the state of California. [Search the BAGSC Blog for related articles about the Arboretum introductions project, and BAGSC members’ special purchase package. If you’re at the LA Arboretum, be sure to stop off in the gift store to buy the first edition of the cards.]
For more information, please contact Jill Berry, Education Manager at the Los Angeles Arboretum.
We look forward to hear from you!
by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
As you know, BAGSC has produced the first round of the Arboretum Introduction card collection. To get a very good rate for the production of the cards we bought a relatively large number.
We would like to offer members the opportunity to buy copies of the cards, with envelopes and boxes at a price of:
$2.00 per card, in packs of 5 (5 different cards/pack), $10/pack; or,
in packs of 10 (2 cards each of the 5 different cards/pack) $20 per pack.
The cards are beautiful and include a description of the Arboretum, BAGSC, the image and artist on the back. This is a very good price for high quality cards (I know I cannot produce cards at this price). See the original article about the cards, with an image, at https://bagscblog.com/2012/12/13/update-on-the-arboretum-introductions-project/
If you would like to buy cards contact Janice Sharp with the number of cards you want to purchase.
We are continuing to print additional cards as members paint the LA Arboretum introductions. Please contact Janice with information about any paintings you are doing. A list of LA Arboretum introductions can be found on our blog at: https://bagscblog.com/2012/09/03/call-for-images-of-the-los-angeles-county-arboretum-and-botanical-garden-introductions/
A map of the introductions is at: https://bagscblog.com/2012/10/06/google-map-of-la-arboretum-plant-introductions/
by Janice Sharp

The initial five-pack of LA Arboretum Introduction cards include cards by Cristina Baltayian, Akiko Enokido, and Janice Sharp. The cards are blank inside for messages; the back has text about the Los Angeles Arboretum, BAGSC, the plant, and the artist.
BAGSC has been asking its Members to “donate” the use of images they may have, or will create, to be included in an “Arboretum Introduction” card collection. So far we have put together a test run of five cards that are now on sale in the Los Angeles Arboretum Gift Store. The cards have been well received and we are moving forward with the project. If you have Introduction plants you have painted/drawn and would like to have them included in this project please contact Janice Sharp or Deborah Shaw.
For those who have painted plants and are not sure if they are “Introductions”, please contact Deborah to send a digital image, or mail a print to me and I will take them to the botanists at the Arboretum to get an opinion as to whether they are “Introduction” plants.
Read about the LA Arboretum Introduction project and see the Google map to the plants at the Arboretum on the BAGSC blog by clicking the links in this sentence.
For those who have found the Google map difficult to use to locate the Introductions contact Janice Sharp and she will arrange a tour of the Arboretum to find the Introductions.
by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw

When you first click on the link in the story to the Google map of the locations of Arboretum introductions, this is what you’ll see; a list of all the plants with their locations as dots on the map. Click on “Satellite” view in the upper right corner of the map to see the information displayed over a photographic map.
For all of us who are painting the plants introduced by the Los Angeles Arboretum (or even those of us who want to find those plants from the list), we have a link to a Google map of the locations of Arboretum introductions throughout the grounds (thank you Frank!).
This this data is about five years old, so some plants from our list may be missing from the map, but it’s a great start. When you open the site, click on “satellite” view and zoom in. Then you’ll be able to see the paths and roads in the Arboretum, which will make it easier to find things and find your way around.
Questions? Contact Janice Sharp.
Happy painting!










